Rabbi Klaven returns to Valley Temple for Selichot

Rabbi Marshal Klaven, director of Rabbinic Services for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life headquartered in Jackson, Miss., will return to the Valley Temple bimah this weekend.

Rabbi Klaven will be the scholar-in-residence during an adult education program on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m., titled, “To Plant or Not to Plant Seed: Homosexuality and the Bible.” A reception will follow the adult education session, and the Selichot service will begin at 10 p.m. Rabbi Klaven served as rabbinic intern in 2008-09 during his final year of studies at HUC-JIR. “We are delighted to welcome Marshal back to Valley,” said Rabbi Sandford Kopnick. “He was a very popular intern, and we’re looking forward to the way he brings his profound warmth and sensitivity to his study topic,” Rabbi Kopnick added.

Rabbi Klaven currently serves as a circuit rabbi in the southern United States, helping small and struggling congregations with rabbinic services. He visits inmates in various prisons, and provides Judaism in remote areas as well as cities with dwindling Jewish populations. Rabbi Klaven is a native of St. Louis, Mo. and an alumnus of Goldman Union Camp Institute. Rabbi Klaven will also deliver the sermon at Friday night services and participate in the Shabbat morning service at Valley Temple.